"A household based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified educator to assist their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily miss the phrase "beginning" as simple an expression.
But, it may be the most significant element of this unique job advert, as it aims to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been received since the unnamed family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained notice throughout the news, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding early skepticism, he found the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid history to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to instil.
He explained the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he comments.
However, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", answered he. "They understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who have similar reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from China to the Britain at the period of childhood, and had been educated knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can act as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically English tutor from infancy will will not instantly produce the result they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I think the reality that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
